Another advocate hacked to death in broad daylight in Chennai

In a third deadly attack on advocates in three weeks, a lawyer was hacked to death at Vysarpadi on Wednesday. Ravi (50), a resident of Sathyamurthy Nagar and a civil lawyer, was murdered by a gang of five unidentified men near his house.

Ravi was on his bike near Ashok Pillar when seven men hacked him to death. Investigations into his murder have begun, but the reasons for his murder are not immediately known. He was an advocate at the Madras High Court.

The victim was allegedly involved in kangaroo-court and used his degree and experience to solve local civil disputes. Sources said that he was not in good terms with many because of his dealings as a civil lawyer.

Police said Ravi was earlier a member of Viduthalai Chirutaigal Katchi (VCK) and the Puratchi Bharatham.

He later joined the Jananayaga Puratchi Munnani (Democratic Revolutionary Front). Police said that Ravi had once been booked for criminal trespass in a property dispute at Madhavaram and last year he assaulted a youth brigade member Dinesh.

On June 16, Akhilanath, (34), another lawyer was also murdered near his house in Puzhal. He was attacked by six armed men on three motorcycles. A week before that, Murugan, a 44-year-old advocate fell victim to murder by a gang in Kodambakkam. His wife Lokeshini, and her paramour were subsequently arrested.

The murky dealings between some lawyers and criminal gangs in Tamil Nadu have been in the spotlight for a long time now. There have been instances when lawyers belonging to rival groups have attacked or killed each other.